Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-01-31
More Clean Than Cody.

The woman who is so absorbed in
her homework as TO chronicle events by
noting that Harry died on tin securing
day. that Jimmy was married on gen
eral sweeping day. or that Susie was
born on window washing morning
remembering, regretfulv, that the win
dow washing was therefore postponed
may give her family a very good
house to live in, but not an attractive
home. In home we expect to find the
nearest approximation TO comfort that
is allowed the unhappy dwellers on this
benighted sphere; in home we want
place where we may lay aside the
irksome restraints which society i'm
poses upon uS-where we may be at
ease ut least ten minutes out of the four
teen hundred and forty minutes of the
day, and where we may enjoy some
thing like rest And oh! my dear over
neat sister. how much of this comfort,
this ease, this rest, do you permit your
poor family to have? Henry crowds
his business into fewer hours, and comes
up from the Office earlier than usual,
thinking to enjoy drive with you
Rash man! He finds the front porch
filled with the parlor furniture, the
maid of all work down on her knees
vigorously applying polishing cloth,
and you-your head enwrapped in
towel-leaning out of window in a
breakneck position, endeavoring to
sweep down the cobwebs that exist
chiefly in your brain. He swallows the
disappointment which the first glimpse
of home induces. and, bravely venturing
all, tells you to take off that towel, put
on your bonnet and shawl, and come
with him. And you!-you turn on him
a look of mingled scorn and reproach,
and indicating the confusion round
about with a lofty wave of your broom,
exclaim CONTEMPORARY. This looks
like driving. doesn't ftp"
My erring housewife. your husband
may, in despair, 60 for some younger.
handsomer woman to drive with him,
and there are uncharitable persons in
the world who will not pity you if he
does. for this is not the only time that
neatness has conflcted with comfort
that the house has proved an insur-
mountable obstacle in the way of hap
piness. Henry has ten minutes after
dinner; be seats himself and resolves to
rest for that space of time. You look
tired. The martyred air with which
you have carried yourself during the
meal has irritated him. He does wish
that you would sit down too. and let the
house 60 10 the dogs if it must, through
ten minutes of sheer idleness. But no;
with weary footsteps you drag yourself
upstairs and down again, appearing in
sun bonnet Not too PLEASANTLY, he
inquiries, What are you going to do
now?" With Joan of Arc expression,
you heroically reply that you are going
out to prop up that trellis in the back
yard. It's leaning over, and looks di-
lapidated; and when you have n hus-
band who won't put nail in anything
to keep it from falling to pieces, why,
you must do it yourself. You amt good
for much. you know, but thank the
Lord! you do love to see things in
order Henry may jump up, stride out
to the trellis, grasp hammer and nails,
and, striking energetlcally but blindly,
hit his thumb. swear, toss the hammer
farther. snap out the intelligence that
he'll send man from the store to fix il,
and 60 down town in anything but
Christian frame OF mind. Or he may
doggedly sit still and permit you to
prop up the trellis, since you do want to
distinguish yourself as martyr. But
his peace is spoiled; wicked thoughts
fill his mind, and it is barely possible
that he will inwardly declare that if the
first law of Heaven is order he doesn't
want to 60 there. True, there are men
who would tenderly embrace their wife,
tell her affectionately that she is tired,
beg her to rest, and say, Il will do it
myself DEAR" and who will perform the
task without grumble. But, alas. for
flesh and blood! such men live only in
books and behind the footlights, and it
is the unamiable, live creature. not the
paper or stage creation, with whom we
have to deal.-Fiord Mcdonald, in